Baseball Falcons prepare for stretch run to defend title

There was no need to panic. The baseball Falcons are right back on top in the Northeastern Conference, sort of.

Joe McConnell/jmcconne@cnc.com

“Nobody was panicking,” coach Day said. “We’re a lot better now than we were two weeks ago, because we have more experience and confidence.”

Gloucester and Revere found that out the hard way this past week. The Fishermen dropped a 3-0 decision to the locals May 12, before Revere was upended, 11-4.

Eric Oxford started the game on the mound against Gloucester. Oxford lasted two innings, giving up three hits and one walk. He fanned one. Bob Dean pitched the next three frames to secure the win. Dean allowed one hit and two walks, while whiffing nine. He’s now 3-0 on the season.

Jeff Eldridge hurled 1.1 innings, and Chris Perry came in to record the final two outs.

Colin Lynch doubled in a run. Steve Blanchette and Greg Ladd each singled in a run. Dean and Eldridge collected one single apiece.

Chris Perry actually had the biggest single of the game, a hit and run in the second to setup the first two runs. Ladd singled in one run, and Lynch launched a sacrifice fly to account for the other score.

The host team Patriots were beating the Falcons, 4-1 after two. But the locals quickly put an end to such a predicament, and proceeded to score the next 10 runs to cruise to another win.

Perry pitched the first five innings to earn the win. He yielded five hits and three earned runs, while striking out one. He issued no free passes en route to his fourth win of the year. He is 4-1 overall. Ladd and Eldridge threw one inning apiece.

Lynch led off the game with a solo homerun, and he also singled. Oxford came through with a two-run homer, and also doubled and singled in a run. Eldridge produced a two-run homer, as well. He doubled once. Ladd showed off his power with a solo shot, and he also singled. Tom Marini singled twice. Dean collected a single and a double.

The Falcons will travel to Lynn Thursday night to take on the Rams at Fraser Field, before coming home to face Lynn English at home Monday at 4 p.m.